ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some of the social and genetic influences that make us who and what we are, and that give us our sense of identity. One of the main themes of the chapter is what it means to be a human being. There is now an understanding that socialisation is more than the social influences on individuals which occur throughout their lives. Social interactions with others have always played a key role in the socialisation process. This chapter discusses how many of these interactions are now mediated via computer technology. Genetics play their part, we are not born a ‘blank slate’ and our identities are formed by the interaction of our genetic make-up and our social environment.
